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Meet the Chef – Nino LoCascio

If you’ve eaten in the Yankee Doodle Tap Room within the past 11 months, then you’ve experienced the culinary delights of Chef Nino LoCascio. Not only are his dishes delicious, but they’re visually beautiful – they have to be since we ‘eat with our eyes first.’

Trained at The Restaurant School of Philadelphia at Walnut Hill College, Chef Nino’s always had an interest in creating food people enjoy eating, a trait he inherited from his parents who owned and operated a bakery in Northern, NJ – where he’s from.

After graduating, Chef Nino went to work in establishments in Philadelphia as well as NJ where he perfected his craft. And now, his resume resembles a “who’s who’ in the culinary world. His dishes have appeared in restaurants, hotels, and country clubs where celebrities like Donald Trump and famous athletes often dined. He even opened his own restaurant named Nino’s Trattoria, which he later sold and ultimately led him to the Tap Room where he’s been satisfying the bellies of our patrons. Here, he leads a team of talented cooks who cater to guests every need.

“The best part about doing what I do is seeing the reaction from people after enjoying a meal I created,” said the Chef.

In addition to helming the kitchen, Chef Nino likes to participate in community events. He’s hosted tasting nights where he’s won over attendees with his charm and good bites.

Although Chef Nino spends a lot of time developing menus and plating great food, he does enjoy life outside of the kitchen as well. In his spare time, he likes spending time with his Italian family with whom he’s very close; he enjoys being outdoors – fishing and hunting, spending time at the beach, having a BBQ and/or cocktails with friends; he’s also a big traveler – going to Sicily as often as he can!

Whether he’s preparing savory or sweet dishes (he’s also a trained pastry chef), Chef Nino’s goal is simple: prepare delicious meals using fresh ingredients in interesting ways. If you haven’t tried one of the Chef’s meals, we invite you to come in! And if you have, we invite you to return! Ask your server to meet the man behind your meal – you’ll be glad you did.